Best Electricity Tariff for EV Charging in Ireland
A dedicated EV tariff gives you a few hours of very cheap electricity overnight in exchange for a higher rate the rest of the day. It is the deepest discount in the night rate electricity family, traded against a much shorter window. If you charge an electric car at home, it is usually the single biggest saving available to you, worth roughly €700 a year against a standard day rate.
Yuno Energy currently has the cheapest EV unit rate at 8.59c/kWh over four hours, Bord Gáis Energy is next at 8.98c, and SSE Airtricity has the longest window at six hours. On the total annual bill, though, Electric Ireland comes out cheapest at about €1,938 a year for a typical home with an EV, ahead of Yuno Energy at about €2,011. All rates below were verified against supplier pricing pages in October 2026.
Last updated October 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Yuno Energy has the cheapest EV electricity rate in Ireland at 8.59c/kWh between 2am and 6am, followed by Bord Gáis Energy at 8.98c/kWh from 2am to 5am and Energia EV Smart Drive at 9.42c/kWh from 2am to 6am. On total annual bill, Electric Ireland is cheapest at about €1,938 a year for a typical home with an EV, ahead of Yuno Energy at about €2,011. Charging 2,700 kWh a year on a 9c EV rate costs about €245 versus €945 at a 35c standard day rate, a saving of roughly €700. All EV tariffs require a smart meter.
EV electricity tariffs in Ireland compared
Ranked by unit rate. The cheapest rate is not automatically the cheapest plan: check the standing charge and make sure the window is long enough to fit the charge you actually need.
| Supplier | Plan | EV Rate | Window | kWh per Night (7.4 kW) | Cost per 100 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuno Energy | EV Variable Smart | 8.59c/kWh | 2am–6am | ~30 kWh | €1.55 |
| Bord Gáis Energy | EV plan (Urban EV unit rate) | 8.98c/kWh | 2am–5am | ~22 kWh | €1.62 |
| Energia | EV Smart Drive | 9.42c/kWh | 2am–6am | ~30 kWh | €1.70 |
| Electric Ireland | Home Electric+ Night Boost | 10.88c/kWh | 2am–4am | ~15 kWh | €1.96 |
| Pinergy | EV Night Time (closed to new customers) | 10.89c/kWh | 2am–5am | ~22 kWh | €1.96 |
| SSE Airtricity | Smart EV Max | 12.74c/kWh | 11pm–5am | ~44 kWh | €2.29 |
| Standard day rate | Typical 24-hour tariff | ~35c/kWh | Any time | — | €6.30 |
| Your solar panels | Surplus solar charging | 0c/kWh | Daylight hours | Varies | €0.00 |
Rates include VAT and were verified against supplier pricing pages in October 2026. Cost per 100 km assumes 18 kWh per 100 km, typical for a mid-size EV. Suppliers change prices regularly, so confirm the current rate before switching.
EV electricity plans ranked by total annual bill
The EV rate only covers the car. The rest of the house still runs on the plan’s day, peak and night rates, and those vary far more between suppliers than the EV rate does. This table prices a full year on each plan: a typical home using 4,200 kWh plus 2,700 kWh of EV charging inside the cheap window.
| Rank | Supplier | Plan | EV Rate | Total Annual Bill | Average Rate Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electric Ireland | Home Electric+ Night Boost | 10.88c/kWh | €1,938 | 23.23c/kWh |
| 2 | Yuno Energy | EV Variable Smart | 8.59c/kWh | €2,011 | 23.86c/kWh |
| 3 | SSE Airtricity | Smart EV Max | 12.74c/kWh | €2,112 | 25.02c/kWh |
| 4 | Bord Gáis Energy | EV plan (Urban EV unit rate) | 8.98c/kWh | €2,159 | 25.54c/kWh |
| 5 | Energia | EV Smart Drive | 9.42c/kWh | €2,241 | 27.49c/kWh |
Electric Ireland comes out cheapest overall at about €1,938 a year, even though its EV rate is not the lowest. A cheap EV rate paired with a high day rate can cost more across the year than a dearer EV rate on a plan with cheaper household electricity.
Totals include VAT, the urban standing charge and the PSO levy, and assume all EV charging happens inside the cheap window. Bills for Bord Gáis Energy and Energia include the price rises they have announced for 9 and 12 October 2026. Pinergy is left out because its EV plan is closed to new customers. Your own result depends on when you use electricity: run your figures through the electricity price comparison calculator.
Full rates on every EV plan
Every unit rate on each plan, not just the EV window. Peak applies 5pm to 7pm and night 11pm to 8am on plans that have those bands.
| Supplier | EV Window | EV Rate | Day | Peak | Night | Standing Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuno Energy | 2am–6am | 8.59c | 40.47c | 45.38c | 21.46c | €358.07 |
| Bord Gáis Energy | 2am–5am | 8.98c | 35.23c | 49.14c | 26.57c | €364.89 |
| Energia | 2am–6am | 9.42c | 40.16c at all other times | €265.01 | ||
| Electric Ireland | 2am–4am | 10.88c | 37.60c | Same as day | 18.54c | €328.58 |
| Pinergy | 2am–5am | 10.89c | Not published (closed plan) | Varies by plan | ||
| SSE Airtricity | 11pm–5am | 12.74c | 37.33c at all other times | €379.09 | ||
Rates per kWh including VAT, urban standing charge per year, verified October 2026.
How to choose an EV tariff
Work out how many kWh you actually need overnight before you chase the lowest headline rate. A 7.4 kW charger delivers about 7.4 kWh per hour, so a two-hour window tops out near 15 kWh. If you drive enough to need 30 kWh a night, a slightly higher rate over a longer window is cheaper than paying day rates for the shortfall.
Yuno Energy: 8.59c/kWh
EV Variable Smart · 2am–6am · standing charge: €358.07
Cheapest EV unit rate on sale, with a four-hour window. New customers only on a 12-month term; Yuno's EV Standard Smart plan charges 9.42c. The 40.47c day rate and 45.38c peak rate are high, so it suits homes that can shift most of their use overnight.
Bord Gáis Energy: 8.98c/kWh
EV plan (Urban EV unit rate) · 2am–5am · standing charge: €364.89
Second-cheapest unit rate, over a three-hour window. The EV plan carries a standing charge about €120 a year above the standard smart tariff. Bord Gáis has announced a price rise from 9 October 2026.
Energia: 9.42c/kWh
EV Smart Drive · 2am–6am · standing charge: €265.01
Four-hour window, enough time to complete a full charge on most batteries. Energia has announced a price rise from 12 October 2026.
Electric Ireland: 10.88c/kWh
Home Electric+ Night Boost · 2am–4am · standing charge: €328.58
Only a two-hour boost window. At 7.4 kW that is roughly 15 kWh, so larger batteries will not fill in one night.
Pinergy: 10.89c/kWh
EV Night Time (closed to new customers) · 2am–5am · standing charge: Varies by plan
Rose from 5.99c to 10.89c on 1 August 2026, an 82% increase, and was withdrawn from sale in May 2026. Comparison tables still showing 5.99c are out of date. Rate last confirmed August 2026.
SSE Airtricity: 12.74c/kWh
Smart EV Max · 11pm–5am · standing charge: €379.09
Highest unit rate here, but the six-hour window is the longest available. Roughly 42 kWh per night at 7.4 kW, which suits big batteries and long commutes. Rate is with the 30% direct debit and eBill discount, and rose from 12.13c on 5 October 2026.
How much an EV tariff saves you
Based on 2,700 kWh of home charging a year, roughly 15,000 km at 18 kWh per 100 km, against a 35c standard day rate costing €945.
| Supplier | EV Rate | Annual Charging Cost | Saving vs Day Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuno Energy | 8.59c/kWh | €232 | €713 |
| Bord Gáis Energy | 8.98c/kWh | €242 | €703 |
| Energia | 9.42c/kWh | €254 | €691 |
| Electric Ireland | 10.88c/kWh | €294 | €651 |
| Pinergy | 10.89c/kWh | €294 | €651 |
| SSE Airtricity | 12.74c/kWh | €344 | €601 |
Savings assume all charging happens inside the cheap window. In practice most households charge some of the time at the day rate, so treat these as an upper bound. A higher standing charge on an EV plan also eats into the saving.
EV charging costs are rising
The cheap end of the EV tariff market has moved sharply against drivers. Pinergy raised its EV Night Time rate from 5.99c/kWh to 10.89c/kWh on 1 August 2026, an 82% increase affecting around 1,800 customers, having already withdrawn the tariff from sale in May 2026. The Tánaiste described the increase as “extraordinary”.
Two practical consequences. First, treat any comparison table still quoting 5.99c as out of date. Second, an EV tariff is not a decision you make once: rates and windows change, so it is worth re-checking yours each year against the table above.
More increases are landing in October 2026. SSE Airtricity raised its Smart EV Max night rate from 12.13c to 12.74c/kWh on 5 October. Bord Gáis Energy and Energia have announced price rises from 9 and 12 October, and neither had published its new EV rate when this page was last checked.
If you were on the Pinergy 5.99c rate
Your overnight charging cost has roughly doubled. At 2,700 kWh a year that is about €132 extra annually. Yuno at 8.59c, Bord Gáis at 8.98c or Energia at 9.42c are now cheaper, though you should factor in standing charges and any exit fees before switching.
EV tariffs versus charging from solar
An EV tariff and solar panels solve the same problem at different times of day. The tariff gives you cheap electricity overnight; solar gives you free electricity in daylight. They work well together, particularly if you work from home or charge at weekends, and a solar-compatible charger can prioritise surplus generation before falling back to the grid.
Charging an EV from your own solar panels
How solar EV charging works, what size array you need per car, real savings figures, and the Zappi versus Ohme comparison for solar owners.
Solar Powered EV Charging Guide →Still choosing the car itself? See the best-selling electric cars in Ireland for range, price and grant eligibility on the ten models Irish buyers actually chose this year.
If you export surplus solar to the grid, the rate your supplier pays matters as much as the rate it charges. Compare Clean Export Guarantee rates by supplier before you switch, since the best EV tariff and the best export rate are not always the same company.
Tariff leaderboards
The same supplier data, ranked for a different question. Pick the one that matches how your home uses electricity.
Cheapest Electricity in Ireland
Every supplier's 24-hour new-customer plan ranked by annual bill.
Best Suppliers for Solar
Clean Export Guarantee rates ranked, with payment cadence and terms.
Best EV Tariffs
Night-rate EV plans ranked by unit rate, window and cost per 100 km.
You are here
Best Tariffs for Heat Pumps
Night-rate and flat plans costed at 8,000 kWh a year.
Best Tariffs for Home Batteries
Day-to-night spread ranked, plus what a 5 or 10 kWh battery earns.
EV electricity tariff FAQ
Which electricity provider is best for EV charging in Ireland?
It depends on whether you compare the EV rate or the whole bill. Yuno Energy has the cheapest EV unit rate at 8.59c/kWh from 2am to 6am, for new customers on a 12-month term, followed by Bord Gáis Energy at 8.98c/kWh from 2am to 5am and Energia EV Smart Drive at 9.42c/kWh from 2am to 6am. On total annual bill, Electric Ireland comes out cheapest at about €1,938 a year for a typical home using 4,200 kWh plus 2,700 kWh of EV charging, ahead of Yuno Energy at about €2,011, because its day and night rates are lower even though its EV rate is 10.88c. SSE Airtricity's six-hour window from 11pm to 5am suits high-mileage drivers and large batteries despite the higher 12.74c rate.
What is the Energia EV rate?
Energia's EV Smart Drive plan charges 9.42c/kWh between 2am and 6am. The four-hour window is the joint-longest among the cheap tariffs, delivering about 30 kWh per night on a 7.4 kW home charger, which is enough for a full charge on most EV batteries.
What are Electric Ireland's EV rates?
Electric Ireland's Home Electric+ Night Boost gives 10.88c/kWh between 2am and 4am, including VAT and a 5.5% discount. The two-hour window is the shortest of the main EV tariffs, delivering roughly 15 kWh on a 7.4 kW charger, so drivers with larger batteries or longer commutes may not complete a charge in one night.
Do I need a smart meter for an EV tariff?
Yes. Every dedicated EV tariff in Ireland requires a smart meter, because the supplier needs half-hourly readings to bill the cheap window separately. ESB Networks is rolling smart meters out nationwide and installation is free.
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in Ireland?
On a dedicated EV tariff of about 9c/kWh, charging costs roughly €1.62 per 100 km. At a 35c standard day rate it is about €6.30 per 100 km. Over 15,000 km a year, that is the difference between roughly €245 and €945.
Why did Pinergy's EV rate increase?
Pinergy raised its EV Night Time rate from 5.99c/kWh to 10.89c/kWh on 1 August 2026, an 82% increase affecting around 1,800 customers. The supplier said the tariff had been reviewed to reflect market conditions and the cost of providing the service. It had already been withdrawn from sale in May 2026. Pinergy also cut its Clean Export Guarantee rate from 25c/kWh to 18.5c/kWh on the same date.
Is an EV tariff worth it if I do low mileage?
Not always. EV plans often carry a higher standing charge and a higher day rate in exchange for the cheap window. If you drive well under 10,000 km a year, the extra standing charge can cancel out the saving. Work out your actual annual charging in kWh and compare total cost, not just the unit rate.
Can I use an EV tariff and solar panels together?
Yes, and they complement each other well. Solar covers daytime charging for free, while the EV tariff covers overnight top-ups and winter months when solar generation is low. Check the supplier's Clean Export Guarantee rate too, since the best EV tariff and the best export rate are not always the same supplier.
Sources
- Yuno Energy: EV Variable Smart
- Bord Gáis Energy: EV plan (Urban EV unit rate)
- Energia: EV Smart Drive
- Electric Ireland: Home Electric+ Night Boost
- Pinergy: EV Night Time (closed to new customers)
- SSE Airtricity: Smart EV Max
All rates verified October 2026. Rates include VAT.
John Rooney is the editor of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.
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